Dental process.



No.v764,871. PATENTED JULY 12, 19014.

' M. A. SPARKS.

DENTAL PROCESS.

NO MODEL.

Patented July 12, 1904.

UNTTED STATES PAT NT FFICE.

HANLEY A. SPARKS, OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

DENTAL PROCESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Le r Pa n N 764,871, dated July 12, 1904.

7 Application filed November 27, 1903. Serial No. 182,781. (No model.)

T 0 (LI/Z whom, it TII/IYIII/ concern.-

Be it known that I, MANLEY A. SrARxs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Huntsville, in the county of Madison and State of Alabama,have invented new and useful Improvements in Dental Processes, of whichthe following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to improvements in dental processes, andparticularly to certain novel steps employed for the application ofporcelain for the filling of cavities in teeth.

The object in view is the employment of certain steps in the filling ofteeth which makes possible the utilization of porcelain in stick orpencil form as a filling.

Vith this and further objects in view the invention consists in certainnovel steps of a process, as will be hereinafter fully specified andafterward particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent perspectiveviews of a tooth and a porcelain pencil or stick in the various steps ofthe present process. Fig. i represents a perspective view of the sametooth with the filling therein finished off. Fig. 5 represents aperspective view of a molar having a central crown-cavity andillustrating a porcelain pencil or stick formed to fit the same. Figs. 6and 7 represent the type and form of plate employed for securing apattern of the cavity such as is illustrated in connection with theshowing in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 represents a perspective View of a molarhaving a side cavity opening through the upper surface of the tooth.Fig. 9 represents an incisor, illustrated in perspective, having acorner-cavity and a segmental base-cavity, sticks or pencils ofporcelain being illustrated shaped to conform to said cavities. Fig. 10represents a perspective view of an incisor having a semi-annularcorner-cavity and a porcelain pencil shaped to fit the same.

In the present art it has heretofore been proposed to fill the variouscavities of teeth with porcelain by the introduction into the cavity ofa matrix, which is caused to conform to the contour of the cavity and isthen removed and filled with powdered porcelain,

which is fused by the action .of heat, whereby a porcelain filling isformed conforming to the general contour of the cavity, butapproximately one thousandth of an inch smaller. This filling isintroduced into the cavity and secured therein by a suitable adhesive,which adhesive is caused to fill the space between the filling and thewalls of the cavity. The adhesive material is far more liable to decaythan the porcelain, and loosening and loss of the porcelain fillingnecessarily follows.

I propose to obviate the necessity for the expensive process of forminga filling in the manner above set forth and at the same time cure theobjection to the presence of an exposed adhesive by the use of porcelainpen oils or sticks, which are employed in carrying out the presentimproved process, such process consisting in applying a porcelain pencilto a cavity, securing that portion of such pencil within the cavitytherein, and severing the pencil.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I carry out my processforinstance, in connection with an incisorby preparing the cavity 1 of atooth 2'by forming the same annular and then introducing into the samethe end of a porcelain pencil 3. While said pen oil is in this position,as indicated in Fig. 1, I mark the same about the outer edge of the wallof the cavity, remove the pencil, partially sever the same by the use ofa carborundum disk, as indicated at I in Fig. 2, leavtion 5,-as seen inFig. 3. Next the end of the pencil is serrated or roughened andintroduced into an adhesive, preferably molten gutta-percha, and thenplaced within the cavity. The pencil 3 is held with its end in thecavity until the adhesive has set, whereupon by lateral strain upon theend of the pencil the portion 5 is broken and the filling of the toothis completed. to polish off the roughened portion of the filling forcompleting the. work. In this process I may employ a porcelain-pencilholder 6 for retaining the porcelain pencil after the same has been useduntil compara- 1ng only a comparatively small central por-- It is nowonly necessary tivclyshort; but, on the other hand, the pencil 3 may begrasped by the operator and used Without the interposition of the handle6.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have illustrated'the means by Which I preferablycarry out the present improved process in connection with a cavity ofsomewhat distorted contour and so positioned as to be to some degreeinaccessible. This feature of the process consists in the preparation ofa cavity 7for instance, in the crown of a molar 8and the insertiontherein of a piece of plastic material, as a stick of Wax 9, (seen indotted lines in Fig. 6,) Which is caused by such insertion to assume thecontour of said cavity.

Said Wax is next Withdrawn, and the form 9, produced on the end thereofby such insertion, is cut from the stick of Wax and placed upon asuitable piece of porcelain 10 in an inverted position and gold-paint isapplied to said porcelain about the form, Whereby a pattern 11 is leftupon the porcelain. I prefer gold-paint for the production of thispattern, for the reason that a sharp clear line is left thereby. Anysuitable porcelain stick or pencil is next taken and is ground to ashape fitting the pattern 11, whereby said porcelain is adapted to fitthe cavity 7. This porcelain stick is next introduced, marked, removed,partially severed, subjected to an adhesive, reintroduced, and finishedin the mlanner described with reference to the penci 3.

In Figs. 8. 9, and 10 I have illustrated teeth having cavities ofvarious contours opening at the side. The process of filling suchcavities is the same in principle as that described With respect to theshowing in Figs. 1 to 4, With the addition that a matrix is usuallyintroduced for forming the fourth vertical Wall for retaining the pieceof porcelain in position While the adhesive is setting. In Fig. 8 thecavity 12 in the molar 13 may be slightly inclined and undercut forpreventing lateral displacement of the filling, if desired. In Fig. 9the tooth let, formed With a corner-cavity 15, may, if desired, beformed With a gold backing 16, to which the porcelain filling issecured.

At times a cavity is formed at the baseof a tooth, just at the upperedge of the gum, Which conforms to the contour of the toothbase and isthereby segmental in form. Such a cavity is illustrated at 17 in Fig. 9and is adapted to be filled in the manner described With respect toFigs. 1 to 4 by the use of a porcelain pencil 18, formed oftransverselysegmental contour.

By the present improved process I am en-.

abled to utilize porcelain as a finished product and propose to have thesticks or pencils manufactured in such forms and shapes as to mostnearly approach the various shapes of common forms of cavities, wherebya minimum amount of grinding will be necessitated for fitting the end ofa pencil to a given cavity.

I make no claim under this application for the porcelain stick andfilling carried thereby, as the same forms the subject-matter of anapplication for a patent filed by me on the 29th day of June, 1904.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claimas new, and desiretosecure by Letters Patent, is

A dental process comprising forming a portion of a porcelain pencil intothe shape for fitting the cavity of a tooth, introducing the thus-shapedpencil into such cavity, and severing the projecting portion of thepencil from the inserted portion thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

MANLEY A. SPARKS.

Witnesses:

FRED BEALL, EDGAR M. KITGHIN.

